The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the concepts, characteristics, and variables addressed in other dissertations deemed highly relevant to the literature on adult faith development. The principle contribution of this dissertation was a 44-page matrix and an accompanying 29-page index that reveal the "Primary" and "Secondary" concepts addressed in these other documents. The study employed meta-analytical techniques to design this pictorial tool for future faith development researchers.A search for the keyword "faith development" on the CD-ROM Dissertation Abstracts database yielded 141 documents written from 1980-1994. One hundred and thirty-six abstracts were obtainable for review. Based on these abstracts and aided by a second reader, the author deemed 60 dissertations as being highly relevant to the adult faith development literature. These dissertations were then ordered via interlibrary loan for further analysis of their concepts, etc.Following the pilot study, a decision was made to include an analysis of the dissertations in terms of three tpes of classification. A classification code was assigned to all 60 dissertations in terms of their "Type of Research," "Type of Methodology," and "Type of (Religious) Tradition."Over 900 "Primary" and "Secondary" concepts, etc., were gleaned from the 60 documents. Using Spradley's ethnographic technique of organizing concepts, the concepts were arranged in 35 clusters. The clusters were tallied in 10 possible ways.The results suggest that the dissertations were fairly balanced in terms of those which constituted "Application" research and "Theoretical" research. The most frequently used methodology was "Creative Project," followed by "Qualitative" methods. The vast majority of dissertations were written from the "Protestant" tradition, followed by "Catholic," and "Other."Of the 35 clusters of concepts, etc., analyzed, the results suggest a gap in doctoral research in terms of studies pertaining to concepts related to "Transcendence," "Symbolism," "Evangelism," and "Gender." Much "Secondary" emphasis has been give to concepts, etc., related to "Devotional" but this cluster was not of "Primary" emphasis in any of the 60 studies. The work of faith development pioneer James W. Fowler was of "Primary" emphasis in 37 of the 60 dissertations. / Department of Educational Leadership
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/181625 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Vanlue, Nancy S. |
| Contributors | McElhinney, James H. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | x, 246 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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